Packed beaches keep lifeguards on their toes

Police and fire news in brief

SAN DIEGO:
Beaches were packed, parking lots filled early in the morning, and lifeguard rescues were common over the Labor Day weekend.

About 390,000 people jammed San Diego beaches and Mission Bay yesterday, said San Diego lifeguard Lt. Nick Lerma. There were 177 rescues and just slightly more than 1,000 calls for medical aid.

The numbers were similar for the other days, with crowd counts of 389,000 on Sunday and 332,000 Saturday, and with rescues numbering 174 and 170, respectively.

Meanwhile, DUI arrests made by the California Highway Patrol were less than last year during same time frame.

The CHP arrested 60 people in San Diego County on suspicion of driving under the influence between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. yesterday, compared with 72 in 2008. DUI arrests made yesterday were unavailable last night.

— J.H.J.

CRIME WATCH

Authorities identify man killed in Balboa Park

BALBOA PARK:
The man shot and killed in Balboa Park on Sunday night has been identified as Brandon W. Robinson, 23, of San Diego, the county Medical Examiner's Office said.

San Diego police said Robinson had been shot about 8:25 p.m. Sunday at Jacaranda Place, just west of Pershing Drive in the Morley Field section of the park. The shooting occurred as a party was winding down, police said.

Officers and paramedics found the man on the ground next to a motorcycle. A preliminary investigation found that Robinson was on his motorcycle when he was shot, police said.

The motive was unknown, police said. Anyone with information about the slaying is being asked to call police at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

— M.C.

Police suspect four teens in school vandalism

EL CAJON:
Four teenagers who broke into an elementary school in El Cajon, vandalized a classroom and took a projector and DVD player were caught by police yesterday, authorities said. The break-in occurred about 4 a.m. at Meridian Elementary School on South Third Street.

Police said they responded to an alarm at the school and found two boys and two girls, ages 15 and 16, just as they were leaving a classroom.

The teenagers had broken into the classroom and vandalized the room, throwing glitter and glue on the floors, walls and the teacher's desk, and writing obscenities on the floor, police said.

The teenagers had also taken a school projector and DVD player, police said. Damage was estimated at more than $3,000.